Staffordshire have added three new players to their squad for the upcoming National Counties Cricket Association season.
Staffs are looking to build on last year’s NCCA Twenty20 Cup triumph – and have bolstered their options for all three formats.
Left-arm paceman Hishaam Khan, batsman Yusuf Khalil and England Under-19 leg-spinner Tazeem Ali have all been registered for the 2024 season.
Seamer Khan, aged 24, has signed for Staffs side Rolleston and has previously spent time playing for Kent 2nd XI.
He has been netting with Staffordshire over the winter and provides another dimension to the county’s attack.
Staffordshire head coach Andy Carr said: “Hishaam offers something different to us as an opening bowler with him being a left-armer.
“Staffordshire is a big county and we are looking at all of the leagues to make sure that we don’t miss anyone.
“Hishaam was recommended to us, he’s now playing for a Staffordshire club and he adds to our attack.
“He’s played at a good level, has good pace and gives us something we don’t have in our armoury at present.”
Khalil, who plays his club cricket for West Bromwich Dartmouth, is a young batsman on Warwickshire’s Academy.
He is highly-rated at Edgbaston and has already featured for the Bears’ second team.
Meanwhile, 17-year-old spinner Ali created headlines earlier this year when he represented England Under-19s at the World Cup in South Africa.
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The Smethwick youngster took 7-29 in a group victory over Zimbabwe in February.
He has progressed through the Warwickshire Academy and made his List A debut for the county last summer. Ali picked up 1-49 in a Royal London Cup win against Derbyshire.
‘Young talent’
“Yusuf is an up-and-coming batsman who we are looking forward to working with,” added Carr.
“Tazeem has been consistent with his cricket through the representative levels at Warwickshire. To be picked up play for England Under-19s at the age of 17 is a brilliant achievement.
“He’s still young, but we’re hoping to support both him and Yusuf in their cricketing journeys.
“We have worked closely with Warwickshire and the connection and relationship we have with them continues to grow.
“The conversations we’ve had over the winter have been extremely positive.
“NCCA cricket is the next step up from club level and it’s a case of providing players with opportunities to develop their games.”
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Meanwhile, Carr hopes to be able to call on the services of Kenilworth Wardens all-rounder Reeve Evitts this summer.
Evitts, who progressed through the Worcestershire Academy, was registered last season, but is still to make his Staffordshire bow.
Carr explained: “We registered Reeve last year, but he was unavailable due to academic studies and exams.
“He has recently returned from a winter of playing abroad and is another young exciting prospect with bat and ball.
“Also having playing experience with a first-class county in Worcestershire we are keen to support him with his ambitions of playing both representative cricket for Staffordshire and hopefully push on to higher levels.”
Staffordshire are scheduled to start their NCCA season on Sunday, April 28. They host Cheshire in a Twenty20 Cup double header at Knypersley.
Main image: Staffordshire are preparing for the new National Counties Cricket Association season. Picture: Alfie Shenton